Kichaka Lodge was completely re-built and refurbished between April and November 2020. We also added a high-spec gym as well as a world class SPA boasting a steam room, sauna, a couples massage room as well as a standard massage room.  The décor of the new Kichaka is a modern uptake of traditional safari and colonial style and the ambiance created is one of comfortable elegance. The 10 suites are decorated in the same luxurious style as the main lodge and the finest fittings in the bathrooms are an indulgence, with enormous baths, rain shower heads and “his & hers” basins. Each suite has a private deck with heated plunge pool and an outside shower. To view more information about Kichaka Lodge, click here.

Inzolo Lodge was added to our lodge portfolio during lockdown, taking the number of lodges on Lalibela to six (92 beds). We now have a complete product offering – 5-star (Kichaka), private villa (Mills Manor), tented camp (Tree Tops), traditional 4-star safari lodges (Lentaba and Inzolo) and a family lodge (Marks Camp). To view our lodges, click here.

We believe that sometimes some travel professionals place more emphasis, when choosing a property, on lodge facilities and less emphasis on the game experience. We need to remind ourselves that the main reason that people go on safari is for the game experience. Yes, accommodation, food and service are important, the game experience is the single biggest reason why they choose to go on safari.

We have continued to add to our game numbers and believe that the game offering on Lalibela is second to none in the Eastern Cape. We are unique in that we have vast areas of savannah grassland. The high carrying capacity of this biome allows us to sustain truly vast herds of plains game which, in turn, allows us to sustain what we believe is one of the densest populations of free-roaming lion in South Africa. Coupled with herds of buffalo than number in the hundreds, the game experience at Lalibela is actually what sets us apart.

Despite COVID and the associated drying up of income, we have continued our various community engagement projects at the nearby Seven Fountains Village. We feed approximately 140 children every day and have continued to fund various other community needs.

Our philosophy is that conservation is not only about the animals – it is also about communities that live near the animals, so by looking after our community, we ensure that they have a vested interest in the longevity of Lalibela. Also, it’s just the right thing to do! Click here to read up about our community outreach programmes that we are actively engaged in.